Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-08-17

ure. This note laid on the little dressing
table, where Maggie would be sure to see
it when she came to my room in the morn
ing. also left the bit of gold given me
by Oliver Dudley so long before, and which
until now, had been the most precious thing
in the world to me. But did not value it
now he was no longer my friend; but my
heart ached with dull hard ache as 1
held the trinket in my hand, and then let it
drop beside the letter, mute token of dis.
solved promise, thought, drearily.
Then crept to bed and lay half waking
half sleeping until the first gray streaks of
dawn began, to tighten the east. Then l
arose and donned my hat and sacque, and,
taking my bundle, stole noislessly as a
shadow along the hall and out at side en-
trance l linfastened the door and gained the
grounds, through which sped and reached
the gate unseen by the watchdog that
greatly feared. The gate was fastened,
but managed to creep through the bars
and then 1 stood upon the highway.
turned and gave one long, last look at the
house had known for five long weary
years and which presumed was leaving
forever.
What a massive pile of masonry it was,
standing out dimly in the gray light. How
proudly did it seem to stare at me with its
-windowed eyes, as if scorning the
humble waif who stood alone in the dusty
road, gazing up at it with mixed feelings of
awe and regret. But it had been naught to
me but hateful prison house, said, as
hurried away. Why should regret leaving
it! So l trudged ON, little dreaming how
should again enter the gates of Caledon
Heights, or what a strange, new life lay be-
fore me-
My intention was to go to the city, and
there, /, like all people, especially young
and ignorant ones, imagined I could find
employment. NaCg;e had often told me of
niece Of hers wIo earned good wages as
nursery girl, and a certain cousin who
had nothing at all to do but attend one little
fellow, or child rather, and received the
sum OF two dollars a week and board, be-
sides many Of her mistress cast-off gar
meats, which, Maggie declared, were as
good as new. Hearing this, / did not
doubt but / should soon find a place where
my services would be gratefully received
L did not stop 10 think that these people
would be very likely TO inquire from
whence came and what recommendation
l had But / was very ignorant of the
wcrid. the reader must remember, having
never been outside the gates of Caledon,
scarcely, nor into a town or village Of any
sort. since l was ten years old. Think of
this, you children, to whom journey OF
hundreds Of miles is never thought of ex-
cept as tri6ing occurrence.
1 had with me a small sum Of money which
/ had saved by doing odd jobs for the serv-
ants at Caledon; yet the whole sum did not
exceed two dollars. But / was free, I said,
as / walked on; better starve in freedom
than live in bondage
had calculated that the distance TO the
city could not be over five miles, but in my
confusion / must have taken a longer route,
for walked briskly nearly the whole fore
noon, and still / saw no sign that was
nearing it. The road, too, grew narrow
and had an untraveled look that alarmed
me. was faint and thirsty, too, from hay
ing Travelled so far, but disliked TO stop Mt
any Of the farm-houses passed, for people,
though kind-hearted in the main, would be
apt to look with suspicion on a stranger
piodding alone on the public highway
But toward noon, unable to endure longer
the pangs Of hunger and thirst, stopped at
small house on the edge Of field where
woman was drawing water from well, and
timidly asked for drink, and to stop and
rest for little while. She sourly complied
with my request glancing suspiciously at
my bundle the while.
entered the house and sank down ON the
chair she pushed toward me, almost too tired
70 do more than breathe. She was prepar-
ng dinner, and the smell of the victuals
made me ravenons. had not tasted food
since dinner the previous day, and it was
small wonder was faint and hungry. ]
could not starve, and asked the woman for
breakfast. She had not spoken since had
entered the house, evidently being in fit
Of suIlxs about something. She spoke now,
though, wondering viciously what was
tramDinQ about the country asking break